Last season saw Lionhearts FC managed by Ogman, take the Euro League trophy with a final day win to ensure Forza Azzurra CJ would not pip them at the post. This season saw Lionhearts top of the table after round 11 with a 3 point gap to newly promoted Bubbaklubba who sat in second place and with Forza back in fourth on 16 points.

Round 12 saw Forza at home to Ogmans Lionhearts which resulted in a 1-0 away win that sent the Lionhearts 5 points clear at the top, as second placed Bubbaklubba could only manage a goalless draw at home to Annihilating Rhythm. This also sent Forza, last seasons runners up, into the relegation zone and gave them a big game to play in round 13 as they faced Team Fonne United away, who were 2 places above them, but only by a point. With Team Fonne and Annihilating both on 17 points and with Forza on 16, a loss for them and a win for Annihilating, who play Alba Juniors at home, could see the runners-up relegated.

So onto the penultimate round of matches, which saw Ogman retain his league title in style. A 2-0 home win against cup finalists Bubbaklubba, saw them go 6 points clear of Alby Juniors, who now leaped frogged over Bubba thanks to a 1-0 away win into second place. Forza Azzura were also celebrating Albys win, as they failed to get anything from their away game against Team Fonne. The result left Forza still with a chance to survive in the top flight. They will now need a win against Bubba, however a win for Annihilating against relegated Spifpool at home, would render Forzas result useless. A draw could be enough for Forza, should Annihilating slip up at home, due to a far better goal average.

While Ogmans’ Lionhearts were celebrating a hat-trick of title wins with a fine 2-0 away win to second placed Alby Juniors, Cup runners up, Bubbaklubba were breaking the hearts of last seasons runners up, Forza Azzurra with a last gasp goal that stopped them getting all 3 points. A win for Forza however, would have been all in vain, as Annihilating overcame already relegated Spifpool 2-1 at home to ensure top flight football for them next season.

Congratulations go to Ogman on a fine hat-trick of titles and winning season 23 by a 9 point gap and ended up with a very healthy goal difference after only conceding 4 goals in the league. After such a great league win, the Lionhearts will of course be the team to beat in season 24, however, the newly promoted teams of Alby Juniors, Team Fonne United (who took 6 points off Lionhearts) and cup finalists, Bubbaklubba will all be hoping to close the gap and give Ogman a run for his money, as well as the other teams in the league. Ogman will be battling for XCL honours again next season and hoping to better this seasons run, where the Lionhearts were ejected from the competition in the quarter final stages after going out to eventual runners-up, FC Ballbreakers on the away goals rule.

Bottom placed FC Romamojo have already begun a major rebuild under manager grusemil, who has sold a lot of his players and replaced them with a new crop of youngsters, including 39 million econ rated Gustavo Caminero a 11 skilled 21 year old and 46 million econ rated David Pouget, an 18 year old 8 skill goalkeeper, as well as several 16 year olds and no doubt the managers attention is firmly fixed on the coming change report.

Unfortunately we were unable to speak to Ogman about his great achievement, but we managed to get a few words from manager Baruth of second placed Alby Juniors.

XD - Second place in your first season in the Euro league, did you think you could do so well in your first season?

I'm really quite surprised, my aim was to avoid relegation. But quite frankly maybe I should stop being so surprised all the time about the performance of the team? Through the whole journey, climbing from div 7 to the Euro League, I have come across really strong teams and I have thought to myself: "It's realistic to end in the middle positions". But most of the times I have been one of the teams who have ended up first or second and been awarded with climbing in the league system. Many teams that I have come across who have been much stronger still play in div 2 or 3, while I ended up second in the Euro League. I have to stop underestimating myself. It's nice to see that you can get far with good and thorough preparations.

XD - All 3 promoted teams stayed up and did well, do you expect yourself or any of the others to push Ogman closer next season?

Honestly I don't give myself or the other teams any realistic chance. Ogman is a very skilful manager with an amazing set of players in his squad, a winning combination. His defence is strong and not many teams score against him. My aim is to remain in the top 3 in the league. In the cup however I aim to go far. If I get to the quarterfinals, anything can happen from there.

XD - Thanks for answering the questions and good luck next season. Is there anything you would like to add?

Thank you! I would like to add that I still enjoy this game just as much as I did 5 years ago when I started to play. It's fun to see that you can go from div 7 all the way to the top division like I did, it motivates you to keep playing. My friends and I have a league that’s been running for 5 years, the thing I wish for right now is the possibility to play friendly’s against other Xpert League teams so I can beat my friends with my Xpert-team too!